Turnstone (Arenaria interpres). Summer plumage. Taken at Farmoor, Oxon., on May 21st 2022.
Summer plumage. Taken at Farmoor, Oxon., on May 21st 2022.
(1/1000th sec at f9. Click image for larger version. © David Hastings) 
Turnstone (Arenaria interpres). Winter plumage. Taken at Cley, Norfolk, on February 6th 2020.
Winter plumage. Taken at Cley, Norfolk, on February 6th 2020.
(1/640th sec at f13. Click image for larger version. © David Hastings) 
Turnstone (Arenaria interpres). Juvenile. Taken at Farmoor, Oxon., on August 11th 2019.
Juvenile. Taken at Farmoor, Oxon., on August 11th 2019.
(1/400th sec at f10. Click image for larger version. © David Hastings) Description
L: 21 - 24 cm; WS: 43 - 49 cm
The Turnstone has a mottled appearance, with brown or chestnut and black upperparts, and brown and white or black and white head pattern. It has white underparts and orange legs.
Birds from Northern Europe pass through Britain in July and August and again in spring. Birds from Canada and Greenland arrive in August and September and remain until April and May. Non-breeding birds may stay through the summer. Around 48000 birds spend the winter here, mainly on the coast.
Turnstones like rocky shores as well as sandy and muddy ones. They particularly like feeding on rocks covered with seaweed, and will feed along seawalls and jetties.
This species has amber status on the British list.
Sightings
| 24-Sep-2023 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (6) |
| 22-Sep-2023 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (2) |
| 19-May-2023 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (2) |
|
| 27-Oct-2022 | : | Flamborough Head, E. Yorks | |
| 21-May-2022 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) |
|
| 13-Oct-2020 | : | Overy Marshes, Norfolk | (1) |
| 11-Oct-2020 | : | Salthouse, Norfolk | (1) |
| 06-Feb-2020 | : | Cley Marshes, Norfolk | (3) |
| 03-Feb-2020 | : | Titchwell Marsh, Norfolk | (4) |
|
| 04-Oct-2019 | : | Titchwell Marsh, Norfolk | |
| 11-Aug-2019 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1juv) |
| 20-May-2019 | : | Ardivachar, South Uist | (2) |
| 19-May-2019 | : | Aird an Runair, North Uist | (9+) |
|
| 13-Mar-2018 | : | Fuerteventura, Canary Islands | (3) |
|
| 10-Oct-2017 | : | Titchwell Marsh, Norfolk | (1) |
| 09-Oct-2017 | : | Titchwell Marsh, Norfolk | (4) |
| 01-May-2017 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) |
|
| 28-Aug-2016 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (2) |
|
| 25-Oct-2015 | : | Hunstanton, Norfolk | |
| 22-Oct-2015 | : | Hunstanton, Norfolk | (25+) |
|
| 27-Jun-2012 | : | Titchwell Marsh, Norfolk | (10) |
|
| 06-Mar-2009 | : | Tenerife, Canary Islands | (1) |
| 28-Feb-2009 | : | Tenerife, Canary Islands | |
|
| 17-Aug-2008 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) |
|
| 26-Mar-2006 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | |
|
| 13-Jul-1999 | : | Isles of Scilly | |
